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| Gov. Presbitero Velasco, Jr. with SP Board Member Adeline Angeles, Sr. Executive Assistant Rolly Larracas and Executive Assistant Russel Madrigal |
Boac, Marinduque - Code Red Sub-level 2, the highest alert in the Department of
Health’s system on the coronavirus, has been raised by the Philippine government following
the rapid surge in local cases of infections.
In yesterday’s consultative meeting called by Marinduque Governor Presbitero J Velasco, on the urgent measures to be
implemented in the province of Marinduque against the coronavirus spread, it
was decided to cancel all municipal and provincial-government organized Holy
Week activities.
This is unprecedented in the history of the province that has prided itself as the Lenten Capital of the Philippines.
Some of these activities are Sinakulo-Pugutan presentations in Boac, Sta. Cruz, Gasan and Torrijos and the Street-Dancing
Festival of Gasan, the Gasang-Gasang Festival.
The Moriones practitioners’ freedom of belief with their
Holy Week ‘panata’ to wear the Morion mask and garb however, will be fully
respected, Velasco said, allowing them to roam the streets of Marinduque.
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| St. Longinus in Saint Peter's Basilica by Bernini. Marinduque's Moriones/Moryonan survives in his memory. |
Gov. Velasco said that an Executive Order will soon be issued, however, that will stress among others the need for Morions to follow
strict social distancing measures as well as the need to avoid mass gatherings.
Mass gatherings as defined in a meeting
in Malacanang, the Governor said, are those participated in by more than fifty
persons.
In a televised address by President Rodrigo Duterte on the global
pandemic outbreak created by coronavirus he defined mass gathering as “a
planned or spontaneous event where the number of people attending could strain
the planning and response resources of the community hosting the event and shall
be prohibited”.
Marinduque remains COVID-12-free until today declares
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Gerardo Caballes. Ports of entry to Marinduque have
been manned by provincial health officers and personnel to screen passengers,
and to disinfect vehicles entering following an Executive Order earlier issued by
Governor Velasco.
But concerns have been expressed by local mayors on the
possibility of suspending classes as a precautionary measure. Boac Mayor Armi Carrion recommended that
since her municipality has the biggest number of PUM’s (persons under
monitoring), with 32 registered, 16 of whom have been cleared, it would be wise
to suspend classes and not wait for any confirmed case of COVID-19.
Mogpog Mayor Leo Livelo also recommended the suspension of
classes in his municipality.
For Sta. Cruz, Mayor Antonio Uy, Jr. said that he has
suspended all tourism-related activities based on
consultations with barangay leaders who understand the seriousness of the situation
and the need to enforce measures to keep the town COVID-free.
Uy said that for
one month until April 12, foreign nationals will be barred in Sta. Cruz and all
the resorts in Maniwaya Island have agreed to rebook earlier bookings.
Uy also said that there will be a ban on pump boats coming
from points in nearby Quezon province such as Catanauan, Mulanay and Burgos.
Even gatherings such as homecoming events, he said are being prohibited.
Mayor Victoria Lim on her part shared her municipality’s
decision to cancel the Sinakulo and Gasang-Gasang Easter Sunday Festival and
said based on medical authorities’ recommendations she’s inclined to recommend
suspension of classes. The traditional
Parade of Morions and Holy Week Night Market in Gasan will be retained, Mayor
Lim added.
Buenavista Mayor Nancy Madrigal shared that they are eagerly
awaiting the position of the DepEd in connection with the suspension of
classes.
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| Cast of a Passion Play await the announcement on suspension of activities. |
Final issues to be undertaken in cooperation with the Department
of Education, Marinduque and others concerned are the suspension of classes in all
levels, public and private. March 16 shall be devoted to giving assignments to
students for their home study.
Classes in All Levels Suspended in Marinduque, March 17-20
After the consultative meeting at the Governor’s Hall,
Executive Order No. 14-2020 dated 13 March 2020, was issued by Gov. Velasco, “An
Order Suspending Classes in All Levels to Prevent/Contain COVID-19”. The EO
ordered classes in all levels to be suspended from March 17-20 to enable
disinfecting of all classrooms and school facilities in the province.
The EO also stipulated that in order to prevent further
spread and transmission of COVID-19 in the Province of Marinduque, residents
of Metro Manila who come from the barangay where persons positive or confirmed
to be afflicted with COVID-19 are residing, are barred to enter Marinduque.
It also stated that those who are negative from COVID-19 but
are residents of Metro Manila shall be allowed entry but may be placed under
home quarantine for a period of fourteen (14) days.
